NATASHA. Why, is that a bad omen?
OLGA. No, it's only that it doesn't go with your dress. . . and it looks odd. . . .
NATASHA [in a tearful voice]. Really? But you know it's not green exactly, it's more a dull colour [follows OLGA into the dining-room].
[In the dining-room they are all sitting down to lunch; there is no one in the drawing-room.]
KULYGIN. I wish you a good fiancé, Irina. It's time for you to think of getting married.
CHEBUTYKIN. Natalya Ivanovna, I hope we may hear of your engagement, too.
KULYGIN. Natalya Ivanovna has got a suitor already.
MASHA. I'll have another little glass of wine! You only live once -- what the hell.
KULYGIN. You deserve three bad marks for conduct.
VERSHININ. How nice this cordial is! What is it made of?
SOLYONY. Cockroaches.
IRINA [in a tearful voice]. Ugh, ugh! How disgusting.
OLGA. We're going to have roast turkey and apple pie for supper. Thank God I'm at home all day and will be at home in the evening. . . . Friends, won't you come again this evening?
VERSHININ. Allow me to come too.
IRINA. Please do.
NATASHA. They don't stand on ceremony here.
CHEBUTYKIN. Nature our hearts for love created! [Laughs]
ANDREY [angrily]. Stop it, gentlemen! Aren't you tired of it yet?
[FEDOTIK and RODE come in with a big basket of flowers.]
FEDOTIK. Why, they're at lunch already.
RODE [speaking loudly, with a lisp]. At lunch? Yes, they are at lunch already. . . .
FEDOTIK. Wait a minute [takes a snapshot]. One! Wait another minute. . . [takes another snapshot]. Two! Now it's ready. [They take the basket and walk into the dining-room, where they are greeted noisily.]
RODE [loudly]. My congratulations! I wish you everything, everything! The weather is delightful, perfectly magnificent. I've been out all the morning for a walk with the high-school boys. I teach them gymnastics.
FEDOTIK. You may move, Irina Sergeyevna, you may move [taking a photograph]. You look charming today [taking a top out of his pocket]. Here is a top, by the way. . . . It has a wonderful sound. . . .
IRINA. How lovely!
MASHA. By the sea-shore an oak-tree green. . . . Upon that oak a chain of gold. . . [Tearfully] Why do I keep saying that? That phrase has been haunting me all day. . . .
KULYGIN. Thirteen at table!
RODE [loudly]. Surely you don't attach importance to such superstitions? [Laughter]
KULYGIN. If there are thirteen at table, it means that someone present is in love. It's not you, Ivan Romanovitch, by any chance? [Laughter]
CHEBUTYKIN. I'm an old sinner, but why Natalya Ivanovna is blushing, I can't imagine. . .
[Loud laughter; NATASHA runs out from the dining-room into the drawing-room followed by ANDREY.]
ANDREY. Come, don't take any notice! Wait a minute. . . stop, please. . . .
NATASHA. I feel ashamed. . . . I don't know what's the matter with me and they make fun of me. I know it's improper for me to leave the table like this, but I can't help it. . . . I can't. . . [covers her face with her hands].
ANDREY. My dear girl, please, I implore you, don't be upset. I assure you they're only joking, they do it in all kindness. My dear, my sweet, they're all kind, warm-hearted people and they're fond of me and of you. Come here to the window, here they can't see us. . . [looks round].
NATASHA. I'm so unaccustomed to society! . . .
ANDREY. Oh youth, lovely, marvellous youth! My dear, my sweet, don't be so distressed! Believe me, believe me. . I feel so happy, my soul is full of love and ecstasy. . . . Oh, they can't see us, they can't see us! Why, why, I love you, when I first loved you -- oh, I don't know. My dear, my sweet, pure one, be my wife! I love you, I love you. . . as I have never loved anyone. . . [a kiss].
[Two officers come in and, seeing the pair kissing, stop in amazement.]
CURTAIN. Act II
The same scene as in the First Act. Eight o'clock in the evening. Behind the scenes in the street there is the faintly audible sound of an accordion. There is no light. NATALYA IVANOYNA enters in a dressing-gown, carrying a candle; she comes in and stops at the door leading to ANDREY'S room.
NATASHA. What are you doing, Andryusha? Reading? Never mind, I only just asked . . . [goes and opens another door and peeping into it, shuts it again]. Is there a light?
ANDREY [enters with a book in his hand]. What is it, Natasha?
NATASHA. I was looking to see whether there was a light, . . . It's Carnival, the servants aren't acting normally; you've always got to be on the lookout in case something goes wrong. Last night at twelve o'clock I passed through the dining-room, and there was a candle left burning. I couldn't find out who had lighted it [puts down the candle]. What's the time?
ANDREY [looking at his watch]. A quarter past eight.
NATASHA. And Olga and Irina aren't in yet. They haven't come in. Still at work, poor dears! Olga is at the faculty meeting and Irina at the telegraph office . . . [sighs]. I was saying to your sister this morning, "Take care of yourself, Irina darling," said I. But she won't listen. A quarter past eight, you say? I am afraid our Bobik is not at all well. Why is he so cold? Yesterday he was feverish and today he is cold all over, . . . I am so anxious!
ANDREY. It's all right, Natasha. The boy is quite well.
NATASHA. We'd better be careful about his food, anyway. I'm anxious. And I'm told that the mummers are going to be here for the Carnival at nine o'clock this evening. It would be better for them not to come, Andryusha.
ANDREY. I really don't know. They've been invited, you know.
NATASHA. Baby woke up this morning, looked at me, and all at once he gave a smile; so he knew me. "Good morning, Bobik!" said I. "Good morning, darling!" And he laughed. Children understand; they understand very well. So I'll tell them, Andryusha, not to let the Carnival party come in.
ANDREY [irresolutely]. That's for my sisters to say. It's for them to give orders, since it's their house.
NATASHA. Yes, for them too; I'll speak to them. They are so kind . . . [going] . I've ordered yogurt for supper. The doctor says you must eat nothing but yogurt, or you will never get thinner [stops]. Bobik is cold. I'm afraid his room is chilly, perhaps. We ought to put him in a different room till the warm weather comes, anyway. Irina's room, for instance, is just right for a nursery: it's dry and the sun shines there all day. I must tell her; she might share Olga's room for the time. . . . She's never at home, anyway, except for the night . . . [a pause]. Andryushantchik, why don't you speak?
ANDREY. Nothing. I was . . . . . . . . Besides, I have nothing to say.
NATASHA. Yes . . . what was it I meant to tell you? . . . Oh, yes; Ferapont has come from the District Council, and is asking for you.
ANDREY [yawns]. Send him in.
[NATASHA goes out; ANDREY, bending down to the candle which she has left behind, reads. Enter FERAPONT; he wears an old shabby overcoat, with the collar turned up, and has a scarf over his ears.]